Fountain of life at the Foot-Hill of Tinkulhas

Tinkulhas is a steep sloping river course located at the gates of Keren-Akordet road. Having ended this river course and ravines, on the way to Akordet, one finds around 10 villages scattered on a vast plains of Bogu Administrative area. The inhabitant of these villages used to make a queue at past midnight to fetch water from a well near the foot-hills of the river course.

In the aforementioned area, there was a vivid deficit of potable water. Thus the inhabitants used to fetch water through travelling to the town of Hagaz. Such a problem has now been alleviated with the implementation of a first of its kind water project that is now giving services alike to the inhabitants of Frdighi and its neighboring villages.

126 square km, which constitutes 1.2 % of the total area of the Anseba Region, is covered with ravines and rivers courses. Taking note of such water resources of the area, the administration of this respective locality worked on the construction of check-dams across a number of river courses and ravines which in turn showed effective outcome in increasing water reserves. Owing to the construction of 10 check-dams at different areas, the Tinkulhas ravine has become a major source of water and sand deposit. Such undertakings would continue in an enhanced manner as per the information obtained there off.

Through the endeavors made to solve deficits of potable water, a number of areas across the nation have at ease been utilizing the provided services. Most of which have been distributed through solar or electricity powered motor pumps. What makes different the Tinkulhas project from that of the rest water projects so far implemented in the country is its engineering aspect, from which experience could be drawn for further undertakings.
Following the construction of check dams, a deep reservoir is constructed at the foot-hill of the river course for conducting sand based water filtration process which passes through different phases.  Through gravitational force, the filtered water reaches Frdighi village via a 3.2 km long pipe line from which the inhabitants are gaining benefits of the provided services.

At a first glance one may thought the power and speed of the water shades as being pressurized through motorized equipment. Surprisingly, about 16-20 liters of water flows off in just one second by gravitational force. People of this respective area have since last June gained access to good quality water from water sources impounded during last year’s rain seasons and its sustainability has been guaranteed with this year’s added amount of water.

In the Anseba Region, around 250 water supply projects worth 240 million Nakfa have been implemented in the last 20 years of independence. The later project is however first of its kind which paves a way to the implementation of the like project in other areas of the Region.

Engineer Zerigabir Hidray, acting head of architectural services in the Anseba Region’s infrastructure department, is the initiator of the idea and manager of the project. He said that a good experience has been gained from the implementation of the successful projects and there fore plans have been charted out to carry out similar project around Balwa area.

Even though the Administration of Anseba Region played a leading role in the provision of cement and construction equipment, the project was finalized through active participation of the general public who worked at their level best challenging work loads in such trying land forms.

Mr. Ghebru Haile, head of the Region’s Infrastructure Department, said that even though the region’s land form is a challenge to putting in place infrastructure of any sort, as is endowed with river courses and ravines as well the region has a rather unique advantage for the construction of check-dams and other water supply projects. As regards the quality of the water, Mr. Ghebre explained that its purity has been ensured through lab experiments and the putting in place of water pipe lines in underway.  A water reservoir with the capacity of holding 306 m3 has been also constructed to serve at times of inadequate provision.

Even though the Tinkulhas is known for its geographical barriers, the implementation of this successful project has reflected that such an area could also become a potent resource through exerting unremitting efforts. The water supply project implemented in this area is more than a surprise to the inhabitants of the Bogu Administrative area. The people of this area are now comfortably enjoying the ultimate progress made which in turn changed their livelihood for the best. Long travels to fetch insufficient amount of water have now become a forgotten story for the water has been flowing off to the nearest vicinity. Mrs. Hawa Husien from Frdighi expressed satisfaction for the provision of the service saying “we are now earning a living at ease.”